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FDA grants Clinical Data's PRX-8066 Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to PRX-8066, the Company's selective serotonin 2B (5-HT2B) receptor antagonist.

1 Nov 2010

BetterRxCard helps McLennan County residents save on prescription drugs

BetterRxCard, the free prescription discount card sponsored by McLennan County, today announced the program has saved $138,562 for McLennan County residents during its initial six months. "Anything we can do to assist in reducing or deferring the costs to our citizens we are glad to participate in," said McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis.

1 Nov 2010

Seven tips for navigating Medicare maze

If you're about to turn 65, you'll be part of the first wave of baby boomers signing up for Medicare. Consumer Reports Health recommends signing up as early as three months ahead of your birthday. Failing to do so could potentially cost you thousands of dollars down the road. That's one of seven tips for navigating the Medicare maze available in the December issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

1 Nov 2010

Humana third quarter diluted EPS increases to $2.32

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 (3Q10) of $2.32, ahead of management's guidance of $1.65 to $1.75. The company earned $1.78 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (3Q09).

1 Nov 2010

Research Roundup: Primary care doc pay and satisfaction; fixes to Medicare reimbursements; free vaccines?

A critical element of improving population health in underserved areas is the adequacy and distribution of the primary care physician supply, write the authors of this study, who interviewed 42 primary care physicians from both underserved and non-underserved areas in Los Angeles County, California.

30 Oct 2010

Inadequate payments prompt insurance companies to raise premiums, avoid low-income market

Millions of Medicare recipients have been forcibly reassigned to different prescription drug plans because Part D reimbursements to insurance companies covering low-income patients are lower than the actual costs incurred, according to a study released online today by Health Affairs. The report describes how a system designed to encourage competition and to subsidize care for low-income Medicare patients instead has led companies to raise their premiums in an effort to price themselves out of the low-income segment of the Part D market.

29 Oct 2010

Physicians suggest tips to overcome acute pain

The truth is not all pain is created equal. Acute pain is where it all begins. Lasting for several months, acute pain is typically treated with rest, time and medication. For many, that is enough. But if the pain persists, it converts to chronic pain, and new methods must be explored.

29 Oct 2010

HealthSpring third quarter net income increases 27.1% to $42.3 million

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Net income of $53.8 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, up 27.1% over $42.3 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, in the 2009 third quarter.

28 Oct 2010

Phrma pushes back against campaign calls for Medicare Part D price negotiation

The powerful pharmaceutical lobby is pushing back against campaign-trail calls to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices on behalf of millions of seniors enrolled in Part D, The Hill reports.

28 Oct 2010

£600 million cancer drug fund for UK cancer patients

Good news for cancer patients in England, the government has announced that it would fulfill a pledge to set up a drugs fund. Earlier the Department of Health promised the extra funding after a report revealed the low level of spending in the UK on cancer medication compared to the rest of Europe.

27 Oct 2010

US FDA cracks down on importation of unapproved new drugs for personal use

The United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is cracking down on the importation of unapproved new drugs with regards to personal use. Import Alert #66-41, “Detention Without Physical Examination of Unapproved New Drugs Promoted In The U.S.” (“IA 66-41”) was most recently published on September 23, 2010. IA 66-41 contains a Red List, a list of importers whose products are automatically detained for FDA violations, of over 400 firms on the charge of importing misbranded unapproved new drugs. Benjamin England, founder of FDAImports.com, LLC and former FDA Compliance Officer, attorney, and Food and Drug Law expert states that “This Import Alert has been expanded to include importers and products of drugs imported strictly for personal use rather than just targeting foreign shippers, which is FDA's normal M.O.”

27 Oct 2010

Upper Peninsula Health Plan awards 3-year PBM contract to Catalyst Rx

Catalyst Rx, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSI), announced today the award of a three-year PBM contract by the Upper Peninsula Health Plan, a Medicaid Health Care Provider serving the Upper Michigan Counties. The contract covers approximately 38,000 members.

27 Oct 2010

Glaxo to pay $750 million in defective drug settlement

GlaxoSmithKline Plc, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, has agreed to pay $750 million to settle a U.S. government false-claims lawsuit over the sale of defective drugs. The lawsuit first filed in 2004 by Cheryl D. Eckard, a former global quality assurance manager for the London-based company came to a settlement finally. Eckard, 51, said, “This is not something I wanted to do, but because of patient safety it was necessary.” Being the one to bring this to notice she would receive $96 million from the settlement money. She had warned the company earlier but was fired because of her efforts.

26 Oct 2010

ACS My Medicare Advocate helps retirees chart Medicare decision process

Retirees will find it easier than ever to navigate the often confusing maze of Medicare enrollment with the introduction of My Medicare Advocate by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., A Xerox Company.

26 Oct 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb 2010 third quarter U.S. net sales increases 4% to $3.1 billion

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today reported results for the third quarter of 2010. Highlights in the quarter included: the presentation of new data on investigational compounds in the diabetes and cardiovascular disease franchises at major medical meetings; the completion of important regulatory milestones in the oncology, diabetes and immunoscience franchises; the acquisition of ZymoGenetics; and double-digit EPS growth. The company also confirmed guidance for 2010.

26 Oct 2010

Medicare plan choices attract attention as open enrollment approaches

Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services say they have taken steps to streamline this year's plan options for private Medicare plans, including Part D, the prescription drug plan including eliminating some plans they consider duplicative.

26 Oct 2010

Amgen reports $3,816 million for 2010 third quarter revenue

Amgen reported revenue unchanged for the third quarter of 2010 at $3,816 million versus $3,812 million for the third quarter of 2009.

26 Oct 2010

Catalyst Rx awarded new service contract with Wellmark

Catalyst Rx, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., announced the award of a new service contract with Wellmark following a competitive bid process. Wellmark does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and its subsidiaries include Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

25 Oct 2010

Neptune launches Onemia medical food

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. enters the pharmaceutical market with the launch of Onemia™, the first medical food of Neptune's subsidiary Acasti Pharma Inc.. Only two years since its foundation, Acasti has completed the development and launch of "Onemia™" on October 21, 2010 at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress meeting in Boston.

25 Oct 2010

Sen. Grassley asks HHS to probe doctors using excessive prescriptions

The Miami Herald: "Based on the huge numbers of prescriptions written by a Miami psychiatrist, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, is continuing to pressure federal officials to investigate why some doctors write stunning numbers of scripts for tax-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs.

25 Oct 2010